The New Mead
The New MeadGallery : Main Page : Mead Today : Mead Tomorrow
Never the prettiest spot in the neighborhood, the Mead paper plant has nonetheless been a good citizen of Inman Park and longstanding member of our intown community. Now, having recently been sold and closed down, the Mead site is in a major state of transition, thanks to the ongoing, coöperative efforts of a number of organizations, including Wood Partners, L.L.C., Surber Barber Choate & Hertlein Architects, Inc. and the Inman Park Neighborhood Association.
As shown in these drawings (graciously provided by Inman Park resident Dennis Hertlein of Surber Barber Choate & Hertlein), this is a very happy transformation: the Mead site will soon become a bustling “neighborhood-within-a-neighborhood.” New Craftsman and Victorian-style single family homes will be built along Lake Avenue, mirroring the look of the original, turn-of-the-century homes across the street. Behind them will rise townhomes and behind the townhomes will rest the original Mead building, given a good scrubbing inside and out and converted to loft offices. Fronting North Highland will be apartments and condominiums over retail space. Ample parking will be available, tucked away in discreet locations, and there will be generous green space, including a clarifying pond, walking and bicycle paths. Hale street will continue through to North Highland to ease traffic congestion, and the plan calls for abundant traffic calming features.
The Mead site plan was developed by Hertlein, a Principal at Surber Barber Choate & Hertlein, and it holds true to his philosophy that large developments, such as the Mead project, should not only harmonize within themselves, but also with the community in which they are built. In a neighborhood that is being painstakingly restored to it’s original elegance, this is a welcome approach.